Observance of International Women’s Day 2020 – Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights

The Bahamas is pleased to join forces with countries and millions of persons around the globe in the observance of International Women’s Day 2020, with the theme “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”.

While we applaud the significant strides that have been made to advance the rights, progress, and equal status of women, we have to acknowledge, at the same time, that many gaps remain in the walk towards gender equality. The UN reports that “Legal restrictions have kept 2.7 billion women from having the same choice of jobs as men; less than 25% of parliamentarians are women and one in three women experiences gender-based violence.”

I am #Generation Equality gives us the occasion to reflect on the implications of a world where full gender equality exists.

Equality is not only a women’s issue. It makes good economic sense to work for a society where both men and women are equal. It is in such an environment that business and productivity can be healthier, wealthier, more harmonious and of greater benefit to all.

The balanced and equitable representation of women should be seen everywhere in society, especially in areas such as political participation, the judiciary, the workplace with equal salaries, the media, health, sports and at the upper echelons of decision making in all sectors. We have to work together to end negative stereotyping of women and gender-based violence.
We take this opportunity to acknowledge and express appreciation for the many contributions made by strong and dynamic Bahamian women to the development and evolution of The Bahamas. Because of their heroic efforts women today are able to vote and have been educated at the highest levels of academia and in a wide range of disciplines

We are closer to gender equality than ever before, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us. On International Women’s Day, let’s rededicate ourselves to promoting gender equality and respect for the human rights of all persons.

Happy International Women’s Day to one and all!